Printer and slotter



March 9 s. M. LANGSTON ET AL 1,350,800

PRINTER AND SLOTTER Filed Nov. 12, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l rzci.

0 O i K IN ENTORJ Samuel .Lgzrzyston Y fi'arl 516:9

v L m ATTORNEY March 22, 1932. s. M. LANGSTON ET AL PRINTER AND SLOTTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1930 /ZZZ/ r mm g A w MN @m mm.

Jamaal M 1,

BY Ifarl ,Sae

March 22, 1 932. s. M. L ANGsTONiET AL 1,850,800

* PRINTER AND'SLOTTER Filed Nov. 12, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 76 rzpr VIA 4 16 INVENTORS Samuel/[Lapysfow BY lfarzfizqy WWW ATTORNEYS March 22, 1932.

s; M. LANGSTON ET AL 1,850,800

PRINTER AND SLOTTER Filed Nov. 12, 19:50 4. Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOIQS Samuel)! Langston BY Karl ,Jzey 99 M M921:

ATTQRNEYS Patented Mar. 22,1932

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAISEUEL M. LANGSTON, OF WENONAH, AND KARL SIEG, OE BROOKLAWN, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNORS TO SAMUEL M. LANGSTOH (10., F CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- 'I'ION OF. NEW JERSEY PRINTER Am) SLOTTER- Application filed November 12, mo Serial No. 495,158.

This invention relates to machines for use in the treatment of advancing sheet material by means of two or more operating mechanisms which must be relatively adjusted so that the necessary or desired registry of operations is obtained on the sheet.

In many types of machines of this general character, it is necessary to make frequent changes or readjustments to obtain products having different specific characteristics and dependent upon the size of the sheetorthe kind or location of the printing, slotting or the like which is desired. For instance, in the making of box blanks there is us'ually provided a sheet feeding mechanism,cooperating I slotting heads to form slots extending in to a predetermined distance from the edges of the blank to form end closure flaps, and'a printing cylinder carrying a type plate for 0 printing on one or more panels of the blank, In cases where printing is to be in more than none color it is customary to provide two or more of these printing cylinders operating in succession on the blank. The relative posi- 5 tions of the slotting mechanism and the printing mechanism must be varied both axially and circumferentially for making box blanks of different sizes and proportions and with different printing or different position of the printing on the blank and in proper relationship to the scored lines on which the blank is folded in making up the box.

The-axial'adjustment of the slotting and scoring mechanisms is comparatively easily effected through the manipulation of readily accessible. adjusting members when the machine is at rest, and this adjustmentis not disturbed by the stopping, starting or speed variations of the machine.

Circumferential adjustment of the slotting heads, and both the circumferential and axial adjustment of the printing cylinders, particularly if two color printing is to be done, present a much more serious problemr In practically all machines there is a certain amount of lostmotion or back lash in the geartrain or other driving connections between the operating parts, and which is taken up when the machine starts in -operation. In spite of the exercise of *all reasonwhen the machine is new.-

In setting the machine for a different size or kind of blank it is customary in practice to adjust the parts to as nearly the correct position as can reasonably be done and to then start up the machine and run off a few blanks. The lack of proper registry -of the operations on the blank is noted and the machine is stopped. The lack of properregistry may be due to the taking up of the backlash in the driving connections, when the machine is in operation, the inaccuracy in the initial setting of the parts, and possibly other causes.-

With the machine at rest the parts are readjusted to such an extent as in the opinion of the operator will correct the inaccuracy and the machine is again started anda vfew blanks run ofl". The registry is again noted anddf necessary the machine is again stopped and the parts readjusted. The number of times this sequence of operations is necessary depends upon the skill of the operator and the accuracy which is required.

n two color printing where hair line differences are noticeable greater care and greater accuracy is required than for one color proper length of slots between atone speed, but the parts no longer produce the desired register of operations when the machine is driven at a substantially higher or lower speed.

Shrinking or stretching of the sheet material being operated upon may also cause a lack of proper registry at different times durin the normal operation of the machine.

e have referred to a machine for making box blanks, but many of the same difliculties are encountered in other types of machines for operating on advancing sheet material, and particularly where it is necessary to make comparatively frequent readjustments to produce different sizes or proportions of the finished product. 7

By the operation of our improved mechanism rapid, easy and accurate readjustment of the operating parts may be made without necessity for stopping the machine or altering its speed. The parts of the machine may be set' to the approximately correct position when the machine is at rest, and as soon as the machine is started in operation any inaccuracy of registration of 'o erations may be noted on the product pro uced and the proper readjustment made immediately while the machine is running and without the labor,

inconvenience and time loss heretofore experienced. It is possible that a slightly arger number ofdefective sheets may be roduced immediately after starting and durmg the readjustment, but such loss is trivial compared to the time loss heretofore found necessary. Eurthermore the machine may be readily readjusted at the time of any speed change or in case slipping, shrinking pr stretching of'the product occurs, so as to.

maintain roper registry regardless of operating eon itions.

In carrying out our invention there is provided means whereby one rotary operating part may be circumferentially ad usted in re- "spect to either another operating part or a reciprocating operating part while the machine is in operation. Thismay be employed to bring about proper registry of multi-color printing plates, the proper ositioning of the printing on the panel of t e box blank the proper length of slot measured inwardly from the edge of the blank or for other purposes It may be employed for the adjustment of a? single rotary operating part or for independent adjustment of each of a plurality 0 such rotary operating parts. 4

As one important feature of our invention there is provided means whereby the cylinder or other 6 ""rating member is normall tightly secured to the adjusting means, ut the securing means is of such a character that it may be easily released and the cylinder or other operating member freely rotated when the machine is at rest, to bring the prmtmg plate, knives or like operating parts which act 'onthe sheet to such a position that they are readily accessible.v If said operating arts be spaced knives or other cutters for ibrming slots at opposite edges of the sheet, they 'may be loosened and resecured at the accurately predetermined spacing both circumferentially and axially of the supporting member. If the operating part vbe a printing plate, this may be removed and shifted or replaced by another in approximately the proper position axially of the rotatable supporting member. The member may then e freely rotated to bring the operating part to approximately the correct osition in respect to the feeding mechanism,.t e drive and other cooperating parts. The readily detachable securing means may then be tightly reconnected, the machine started an the knives, printing plates or the like given the final accurate adjustments while the machine is running to cure any defects or inaccuracy of registry noted on the product as it comes from the machine. I

As a further important feature we mount a driving gear coaxial with the rotatable operating member and rotatable on the shaft thereof and transmitting power from said gear to said shaft through a pair of members having interengaging surfaces at least one of which is helically disposed whereby upon an axial movement of one of said interengaging members the rotatable ,operatingrmember is circumferentially adjusted in respect to said I driving gear.

As a further important feature, said interengaging members have helical gear teeth and one of said members is coaxial with and secured to said shaft so as to be held against rotation in respect thereto.

There is provided a hand wheel for efiecting the axial adjustments of one of said interengaging members in the power transmitting train and thereby efiecting circumferential plished by a rod extending coaxially through the cylinder shaft.

Other advantages and important features will be pointed out hereinafter or will be apparent from a consideration of the specific forms hereinafter'described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings our invention has been illustrated in several different embodiments in a combined slotter and printer for box blanks, but various other embodiments may be designed within the scope of our invention as defined in the appended claims, and the illustrated embodiments as well as others may be used in other types of machines for accomplishing other operations.

-In these drawings: 4

Fig. is a section similar to Fig. 4', but.

- showing still another form of circumferential and axial adjusting means.

Fig. 5a is an edge View of one operating member of the construction shown in Fig. 5.

F lg: 6 is an end View of the formshown in Fig. 5, and I Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing means for efiecting the circumferential adjustment. Like reference charactersdenote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In-the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are'intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

In the specific form of machine which has been selected for purposes of illustration and to which the inventionmay be app-lied, there theblank between the ends of the slots extending in from opposite edges.

- Y carrying out our invention means are rovided for effecting the adjustmentiof one, ut preferably both of the printing cylinders 16in respect to the sheetfeeding mechanism. As shown in Fig. 3 said cylinder is slid ably mounted on a hollow shaft 30, but is splined thereto by a key 31 shown in dotted lines, so as to rotate therewith. Passing through said hollow shaft is a rod 32, one end of which is secured to the cylinder 16 by a transverse pin33 extending through opposed radial slots in the shaft so that by moving the rod endwisethe cylinder is adjusted axially on the shaft 30. The peripheral portion of the cy1-- inder may be of wood so that the type plates may be tacked thereto in any desired posi-. tion. The other end of this rod 32 is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 35, but is held againstaxial movement in respect thereto by a suitable double thrust bearing 34. The outside of this thrust sleeve has a spline connection with a stationary cylindrical hearing member 36 forming part of the frame structure of the machine, so that the thrust sleeve cannot rotate, but may move axially to force the rod 32 inor out.

Threaded on the thrust sleeve is a collar or nut 37 which haske'yed thereto a spur is provided the usual frame structure 10 gear 38, meshing with a pinion 40 connected which carries a feed table 11 upon which may be sta'cked a plurality of superposed sheets between guide members 12. These sheets are successively fed into the field of action of the machine by a feed mechanism operated by an oscillating lever 13. This mechanism may be of the type shown in the Langston Patent 1,150,210 or of other suitable construction, and therefore the details thereof are here omitted for the sake of simplicity.

The sheets pass between a pair of feed rollers 14fand' between two pairs of printing units, each of which includes an upper printing cylinder 16 and a lower pressure cylinder 17. Each upper printing cylinder 16 carries .a type plate 18 whichis inked by a series of ink fountain rolls 19. Different inks are supplied toathe typerplates of the different printing cylinders and these plates and their cylinders are capable of being so positioned that, as the cylinders operate in succession, the

two printings will be in the desired registry.

The sheets that have been printed pass through a scoring unit 20 and then through a slotting unit 21. This includes a pair of slotting heads of suitable design. They may be constructed as shown in the Langston Patent 1,769,883, issued July 1, 1930, that is, one slotting head may have an annular groove and the other a pair of knives 21a relatively adjustable circumferentially of the head to vary the distance therebetween and thus con trol the length of the unslotted portion of to a sleeve 41 loosely encircling a stud 42. One end of this stud 42 is fixedly connected to a bracket 44 constituting part of the frame structure of the machine. Pinned or otherwise connected to one end of the sleeve member 41 is a turning member which maytake the form of a hand wheel 43. The nut 37 is locked against endwise movement, as for instance by a split collar 36a rigid with the end of the bearing member 36 andextending into a groove-in the periphery of the nut.

The rotation of the hand wheel.43 effects the rotation of the interengaging gears 40 and 38 and the corresponding rotation of the sleeve or nut 37. This causes the axial move- J ment of the thrust sleeve 35 and the corresponding endwise movement of the rodv 32. The printing cylinder may thus be moved axially on its driving shaft 30 and entirely independently of whether it be rotating or at rest.

.As one means for circumferentially adj usting the rotatable operating member without interfering with the continuous drive and rotationthereof there may be employed to advantage a pair of helical gears in thedriving train to the c linder or other rotatable operating part; y so mounting these gears that one may be adjusted axially in respect to the other, a relative rotation may be secured and the cylinder or other operating part ad vanced or retarded in its cycle.

In he form shown in Fig. 3 the driving connections to the cylinder includefa pair of straight toothed intermeshing gears 45 and 46 and a pair of helical intermesh ing gears. 47 and 48. The gears 45 and 47 are coax'ial, the helical gear 47 being keyed to the shaft 30, and the gear 45 bemg. on the shaft,'but capable of relative rotation in respect thereto. The gear 45 receives the power and acts as a drive gear for 'the c linder or other member carrying the parts w ich operm ate on the sheet. I

At one side of the shaft 3Q and parallel theretothere is provided a stud 49 ri 'dly secured to some part of the frame o the machine, and on this stud is a sleeve 50 carrying two ears 46 and 48 locked against relative en wise movement and' normally locked against relative rotational movement.

.48 drives shaft 30.

As a' matter of simplicity in manufacture and assembly the gear 46 may be keyed to the sleeve 50, while the gear 48-may be fornied integral with an outer 'sleeve 51 encirclin the sleeve 50 and normally rigidly connecte thereto.

Poweris I transmitted to the straight toothed gear from any suitable driving part of the machine and this gear drives the two connected gears 46 and 48. The gear gear 47 which is keyed to the Two of the ali ed gears are very much wider than the ot er two aligned gears and one pair is axially movable. .The gears' 46 and 48 are shown as the wider ones and the axially movable ones. As the gears 45 and 46 are straight toothed gears the axial movement of the gears 46 and 48 does not cause any relative rotation of. the gears 45 and 46,

but as the gears 47 and 48 are helical an enddirection. in which the gears 46 and 48 are moved. 7 Thus the cylinder 16.may be adjusted circumferentially in respect to the driving gear trainand the other operating parts of the machine without disconnecting it from its source of power.

Fig. 3 shows a simple'and convenient means for moving the gears 46 and 48 endwise while the machine is running. In the form shown the sleeve 51 which carriesthe gear 48. has a flange 52 bolted 'to a hand wheel '53 and this hand wheel is connectedby bolts 54 to a sleeve '55 keyed to an enlarged outer end portion 56 on the outer end of the sleeve 50. The sleeve 51 is held between the end of the enlarged portion 56 and the gear 46. Thus the two sleeves and 51 are locked against relative axial movement and are normally bolted together against relative rotational movement.

The sleeve 50 may rotate on the's'tud 49 and such rotation is facilitated by suitable roller bearings. Means are provided for moving these two sleeves and their associated gears endwise on the stud 49 without bearings with the sleeve 57 so as to permit relative rotation of the screw rod and sleeve, but prevent relative axial movement. The outer end of the screw rod .is provided with a suitable hand wheel 59.

When the machine is running the screw rod 58 and its hand wheel 59 are normally at rest. By rotating the hand wheel the rod may be moved endwise by reason of its threaded engagement with the stud 49 and this will cause the endwise movement of the sleeve 57. The thrust connections between this sleeve and'the enlargedportion' 56 of .gehr 47 is connected to the cylinder 16, the

cylinder may be advanced orretarded. ,7

In ordinary operations the circumferential adjustment of the cylinder when the machine is running need be only through a-comparatively few angular degrees, but this may be varied by varyin the length of the gears 46, 48 and the pitc of-the teeth of the helical gears 47 48. The endthrust on the helical gears is taken up by the thrust bearing in the outer end of the sleeve 50 and the rotation of the sleeve and gears is not transmitted to the sleeve 57 .and from the latter to the screw rod 58 because the sleeve 57 is keyed on the stud 49. y

. The mechanism above described has the further advantage in that it permits the freeing of the cylin er from the source of power and the free rotation of the cylinder when the, machine is at rest; Thus when the machine is at rest the cylinder may be rotated to bring any portion thereof uppermost .to facilitate the attachment of the type plate thereto and then the rotation of the cylinder to bring the type plate to the approximately correct position. This free rotation of the cylinder is permitted by the clutch connections'between the two sleeves 50 and 51.

lVhen the clutch connections are released, the

sleeve 50 may remain at rest, while the sleeve 51 is being rotated. By the term clutch connections we mean to include any wellkn own type of connection commonly employed between driving and driven members and which may be easily and quicklyoperated in the normal use of the machine to prevent or permit power transmission as desired.

The hand wheel 53 has an under cut groove which receives the heads of the bolts 54 while the sleeve 55 which is keyed to the sleeve 50 has apertures through which the bolts extend and a countersunk groove 'to receive and protect the ends of the bolts. By loosening the bolts the connected sleeves 50 and 55 will be held against rotation by the intermeshing of the gear 46 with the gear 45 which latter is connected back to the source of power. The hand wheel 53 maybe turned to rotate the sleeve 51 on the sleeve 50 and thus rotate the cylinder 16 through the gears 48 and. 47.

Vhen the type plate has been secured to the cylinder the cylinder is rotated to the approximately correct position, the bolts 54 are tightened and the machine is started. As soon. as it starts any lack of proper registry or positioning of the printing on the blank is noted and by turning'the hand wheels 43 and 59 the cylinder 16 is moved endwise in either direction and advanced or retarded until the desired accuracy of registry and positioning is obtained. It is not necessary to lock the hand wheels 43 and 59 after such adjustment because there is no rotational tendency transmitted to these hand wheels by the rotation of the shaft 30 and the sleeve 50 and 51 on the stud 49.

In order that the operator mav determine the extent of the free rotation of the cylinder while turning the hand wheel 43 the gear 47 may return the cylinder to approximately the I "same position or to any desired spacing from that position'dependent upon any change in the position or the location of the type plate I on the cylinder.

In case it is desired to provide for circumferential adjustment of a rotatable operating part and it is not necessary to prolide for any axial adjustment, the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 for accomplishing such axial adjustment may be omitted. For instance, axial adjustment of the slotting heads is seldom, if ever, necessary during operation of the ma chine, but some circumferential adjustment is often necessary to make the slots of the desired depth in from the end of the blank.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a construction similar to F ig. 3 so far as concerns circumferential adjustment, but with no provision for axial adjustment.

In Fig. 3 the sleeve 51 is mounted in a hearing 61 in a bracket 62 secured to the frame of the machine and the stud 49 is separately attached to the frame.

In Fig. 7 a somewhat similar bracket 62a is employed, but this also serves as the support for the stud 49a. The shaft 63 for the slotting heads is not. hollow, but carries the gears 45 and 47 in substantially the same way as does the hollow shaft 30 shown in Fig. 3.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 7 only limited circumferential adjustment is possible while the. machine is running, the limit being determined by the length and pitch of the helical teeth on the gear 47.

In some cases it is desirable to secure a very much greater range of circumferential adjustment when the machine is running. In Fig. 4 there is shown a construction in which the cylinder 16 may be rotated through any desired distance even through a. complete revolution, and therefore it is not necessary to provide a separte clutch such as that effected by the members connected by the bolts 54, in Figs. 3 and '7 to permit free rotation of the cylinder. In Fig. 4 the circumferential adj ustment is secured without the use of helical gears, there being employed in place thereof.

larger than the gear 76 and meshes with the gear 72 while the gear 71 is larger than gear 72 and meshes with the gear 7 6. I

By swinging the bracket 73 around the hollow shaft 305 as an axis the two gears 75 and 76 will, of course, rotate at the same speed around their own axes, but they will cause a relative rotation of the gears 71 and 72. The gear is connected to .the source of power,

and if the machine be at rest the gear 70 will J be locked and the swinging of the bracket 7 3 will cause a rotation of the gear 72 and a corresponding rotation of the cylinder 16. If

the machine be running the swinging of the bracket 73 will cause a relative rotation of the gears 71 and 72 and an advancement or retarding of the cylinder 16. 7

As a simple means for swinging the bracket 7 3 whether-the machine be running or at rest, the bracket 73 is rigidly secured on a sleeve 77 which is rotatable on the hollow shaft 305. The sleeve 77 has a worm wheel 78 meshing with a worm 79 connected to a hand wheel 80. A bracket 81 supports the outer end of the hollow shaft 301) and the bearings for the worm and hand wheel. The parts are so proportioned that the bracket 7 3 may swing completely around the hollow shaft and may be stopped in any position.

The amount of rotation of the cylinder 16 in respect to the driving gear 70 for a given movement of the bracket 7 3 may be varied by properly selecting the relative sizes of the gears 7 5 and 76 and the gears 72 and 71 with which they mesh. By making a difference of only one tooth in the gears 75 and 76 a complete revolution of the bracket 73 around the shaft 306 will advance or retard the cylinder 16 through an angular distance equal to the width of one tooth on the gear 71. Thus a very delicate and accurate adjustment may be secured through the movement of the bracket through the desired distance.

In Fig. 4 there is also shown an alternative means for moving the cylinder 16 endwise. The rod 32a is provided with a grooved collar 85 at its outer end engaging the pins of a yoke 86 on the end ofa pivoted lever 87. A screw rod 88 is mounted in the bracket 81 and l:as a pair of collars 89, 90 engaging opposite sides of the lever 87. By rotating the hand wheel or handle 91 on the end of the screw rod the lever 87 may be swung in either direction and the rod 32a and the cylinder 16 moved endwise in either direction.

If it is desired to use the mechanism for accomplishing circumferential adjustment as shown in Fig. 4 without any endwise adjustment, it will, of course, be obvious that the rod 32a and the parts 85 to 91 for operating the latter may be omitted and the cyhnder 16 directly connected to the shaft 301), ora shaft similar to the shaft 63 in. Fig. 7 may be employed.

It will be noted that in the form shown in Fig. 4 as well as in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 7 that there are two aligned gears, one of which is connected to the rotatable operating member and the other to the drive, and that there are a connected pair of gears meshing with the first mentioned gears for transmitting power from one to the other of the latter and that this second mentioned pair of .gears is bodily movable to effect relative rotation of the first mentioned gears.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 4 is disclosed and specifically claimed in our copending application Serial No. 553,980, filed July 30, 1931, although. such construction forms one embodiment of the invention herein claimed.

In the form in Figs. 3 and 7 a relative endwise movement of two members at least one of which presents helical surfaces. is utilized for effecting relative rotation of the driving gear and the operating member. This principle may be employed in a somewhat different form as shown in Figs. Sand 6. In this construction the details are similar to those shown in Fig. 4; except in the following particulars.

The driving gear 92 is keyed to a. collar 9 which has a cylindrical flange provided with hclically disposed slots 94. This collar is relatively rotatable in respect to the driving shaft 307). Encircling the driving shaft and relatively rotatable in respect thereto is a sleeve 95 having keyed thereto a collar 96 having pins 97 slidable in the slots 94. The sleeve 95 is normally rigidly secured to the shaft 307) so that as the collar 96 is moved endwise it will cause a relative rotation of the driving shaft 30?) and the driving gear 92. Any suitable means may be employed for effecting axial movement, as for instance, a pivoted lever 98 and an adjusting screw rod 99.

The clutch shown in Fig. 3 for preventing or permitting relative rotation of the drivinggear which is connected to the gear 46 and the member 48 which has the inclined surfaces and which is connected through the gear 47 to the cylinder 16, includes the members 53 and and the connecting bolts 54. This type of clutch is preferable as it prevents any possible slipping under the heavy strain to which the parts are subjected under high speed operations.

A different form of clutch is shown in Fig. 5 which is somewhat easier to engage and release. This clutch includes a clutch drum 53a and an internally expanding clutch band 55a which are connected together or released by a sliding collar 54a. This clutch operating collar is keyed to the sleeve 95 and may be moved into or out of operation in any suitable manner as for instance an operating lever 54b. 4

The construction illustrated in Figs. 5, 5a and 6 is disclosed and specifically claimed in our copending application Serial No. 553,981, filed July 30, 1931, although such construction forms one embodiment of the invention herein claimed.

It will be apparent that the various details of construction illustrated may be varied within a comparatively wide range within the spirit of our invention, and that various other forms may be designed to accomplish the desired result of axial adjustment or circumferential adjustment" or both adjustments, of a rotatable operating member acting upon an advancing sheet-,whereby the registry and proper placing of the results of such operation may be secured while the machine is in operation, and whereby when the machine is at rest the operating member may be released from the drive and freely rotated to bring the operating parts into readily access ble positions.

Having thus described our invention, what and desire to secure by Let gear secured to said printing cylinder, a sec-.

ond helical gear meshing with the first helical gear, means for transmitting power from said driving gear to said second helical gear for driving the first helical gear, means for moving one of said helical gears axially to thereby efi'ect relative circumferential movement of said cylinder and said driving gear, and

clutch connection for preventing'or ermit ting relative rotation of said cylin er and said driving gear independent of any relative axial movement of said helical gears.

2. A machine for operatin 'on an advancing sheet, including a rotatable member for acting on the sheet, a driving gear, a helical gear secured'to said member, a second helical gear meshing with the first mentioned helical gear, means for transmitting power from said driving gear to said second mentioned helical gear, means operable while the -machine is running for moving one of said helical gears axiallyto thereby rotate one helical gear in respect to the other and to turn said rotatable member in respect to said second driving gear, and clutch connections between said helical gear and said driving gear to permit freein of said member from driving relationshipwith said driving gear.

3. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a plurality of operating members acting in sequence, and means ;for securing predetermined relative positionin of the successive operations on the sheet, including a pair of coaxial gears, one constituting t e driving gear and the other connected to one of said members, a second pair of coaxial gears, 'each meshing with a corresponding one of the first pair, a detachable clutch connected between said last mentioned gears, and means for movin one pair bodily in respect to the other to ei fect relative rotation of the two first mentioned gears but without efiecting power transmission from the driving gear through the-second pair to said member.

4. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, includin a rotatablemember for operating on the s eet, a driving gear coaxial therewith, and power transmitting connections between said gear and-said member, including a pair of members'relatively nections for permitting free rotation of said driving gear and said member.

5. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member 7 for operating on said material, a fixed rod,

a pair of coaxial gears axially movable on said rod, means for driving one of said gears, a power transmitting connection between the other gear and said rotatable member, means connecting said gears to prevent relative rotational movement, a hand. wheel having a threaded engagement with one end of said fixed rod for effecting axial movement of. said gears, and means-responsiveto said axial movement for effecting the relative rotation of said rotatable member with respect 7 to said driving means.

6. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, includin ating mechanism, a fixed rod, a pair of coaxial rotatable members mounted for rotation about said rod, a power transmitting connection between one of said members and said mechanism, means for driving the other mem ber, means connecting said members to prevent relative rotational movement, a hand wheel having threaded engagement with one end of said fixed rod, one of said members being connected to said hand wheel, and means responsive to the axial movement of said last mentioned member for eflecting the relative rotation of said rotatable mechanism with respect to said driving means, without interrupting the transmission of power thereto.

7. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member for operating on said material, a drive gear,

- gaged by said drive gear, a drive. connection between the other sleeve and said rotatable member, means connecting said sleeves together to normally prevent relative rotational movement, means connected to one end of one of said sleeves for moving it in an axial direction, and means responsive to the axial movement of'said last mentioned sleeve. for eflectingthe relative rotation of said rotatable member With respect to said drive gear.

8. A machine for operating on an advanc ing sheet, including a rotatable operating mechanism, a pair of" rotatable, members mounted coaxially with respect to said mechanism, one of said members serving toreceive the driving'power and, the other member so a rotatable .operbeing committed to said mechanism, power transmitting connection meansbetween said members including readily disengageablemeans to permit or prevent relative rotation of said members, means for moving said conncction means bodily with respect to meet said rotatable members and'means responsive to the movement of said circumferentially advancing orretarding one of said members with respect to the other to eflect a. corresponding circumferential adjustment of the rotatable mechanism without inconnection means for terrupting the transmission of power to said rotatable mechanism.

9. A machine for operating on an advancing sheet, including a rotatable operating mechanism, a pair of rotatable members mounted coaxially with respect to said mechanism, one of said'members serving to receive driving power and, the other member being connected to said mechanism, a power transmitting connection between said members, including means for permitting or preventing free relative rotation of said members, and means for circumferentially advancing or retarding one of said members with respect to the other to effect acorresponding circumferential adjustment of the rotatable mechanism without interrupting the transmission of power to said rotatable mechanism.

10. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatablememher for operating on said material, a pair of intermeshmg members having helical teeth. means for driving one of said members, a drive connection between theother member and said rotatable member. means for moving one of "respect to the other of said pair of members without interrupting the transmission of power to said rotatablemember, and disen-.

gageable means for preventing or permitting the rotation of said rotatable member independently of said driving means withoutunmeshing said gears; I

11. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable operating mechanism, a pair of coaxial rotatable members, one of said members being shiftable axially, a power transmitting connection between one'of said members and said mechanism, means for driving the other of said a tive rotational movement, and means responsive to the axial movement of said shiftable member for efiecting the relative rotation of said rotatable mechanism with respect to said driving means without interrupting the transmissionof power thereto. I

Q 12. A machine for operating onadvancing sheet material, including a rotatable member for operating on said material, a pair of members having interengaging helical sur-" faces, means for driving one of said pair, a drive connection between the other member of said pair and said rotatable member, means operable while the machine 'is rimning' for adjusting one of said members axially to effect relative rotation of said rotatable memvber in respect to said driving means, and

means for disen ging said rotatable member from the driving means for permitting 13. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member rotatable member from the driving means for ermitting the free rotation of said rotata le memberindependently of said driving means without disengaging said memers. w

14. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member for o crating on said material, a pair of concentric sleeves, means for moving one of said sleeves axially to circumferentially advance or retard said rotatable member without interrupting the transmission 'of power thereto, a drive for one of said sleeves, a drive connection between the other sleeve and said rotatable member, and easily engageable and 'di'sengageable means for connecting said sleeves to prevent or permit relative rotation. Q

. for operatin on said material, a pair of concentric mem ers, a air of gears, one connected to each of said members, means for driving oneof said gears, a drive connection between theother gear and said rotatable member, a hand wheel connected to said last mentioned gear, easil disengageable means connecting said han wheel and the other gear, for permitting or preventing relative rotation of said gears, and means efi'ecting axial movement of one of said gears for circumferentially advancing or retarding said rotatable member while the machine is running.

16. -A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member for operating on saidmaterial, a pair of concentric sleeves, a gearconnected to one of said'sleeves, a drive therefor, a drive connection between the other sleeve and said rotatable member, a fixed support loosely em bracedby said sleeves, a hand wheel-having threaded engagement with one end of said support,- and connected to one of said sleeves,

for axial movement therewith, easily en- 'ageable and disengageable means connectmg said sleeves for rotation in unison, and means responsive to the axial movement of said last mentioned sleeve for effecting the the rotation of said rotatable member inderelative rotation of saidrotatable meniber pendently of said driving means without dis engaging said members.

with respect to said driv 17 A slotter for carton blanlgs, including a-rotatable slotting head, "a drive therefor,

and connection means therebetween, including readily disconnectible means whereby the head may be positively driven or may be released/for free rotation independently of the drive to render any portion of the head readily accessible for adjustment, attachv merit or removal of the operating part of said head, and means in series with said first mentioned means for circumferentially adjusting said head in respect to said drive, when said first mentioned means is in driving position and the machine is running.

18. Amachinefor operating onadvancing sheet material, including a rotatable member for operating on said material, a drive there- I for, a rod connected to said rotatable member and coaxial therewith, a hollow shaft through which said rod extends, and connected to said rotatable member for driving the latter, a pair of interengaging members, one of which is connected to said shaft and the other con- .nected to the drive, means operable while drive.

19. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member for operating on said material, a rod con nected to and coaxial with said rotatable member, means for moving said rod and member axially, a sleeve encircling said rod, and having one end thereof connected to said rotatable member for rotational movement therewith, a first helical gear connected to said sleeve, a second helical gear meshing with said first helical gear, a drive for said second helical gear, and means operable while the machine is running for adjusting one of said helical gears axially to efiect relative rotation of said rotatable member with respect to said rod.

20. A machine of thecharacter described, including a rotatable member for operating on a sheet of material, means for driving said rotatable member, a rod connected to said rotatable member, and coaxial therewith, a rotatable member externally threaded and connected to said rod, a gear having a threaded engagement with said threaded rotatable member, a pinion meshing with said gear, and a hand wheel connected to said pinion,

whereby upon the rotation of said hand wheel,

said first mentioned rotatable member is moved axially without interrupting the drive thereto.

21. 'A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member driving said member, a rod connected to said rotatable member and'coaxial therewith, a.

thrust gearing con nected-to 051a b43315; said to 'a. mem r engaging sai unit, and having an external threaded por-' tion, a gear coaxial with respect to said rod, and having a threaded engagement withsaid threaded member, a fixed rod, a pinion mounted for rotational movement around said rod, and meshing with said gear, andfa. hand wheel supported on said fixed rod, and connected to said pinion, whereby upon the rotation of said hand wheel, axial adjustment of said rotatable member 'is efiectedwithout interrupting thedrive thereto.

22. A machine for opreating on advancing sheet material, including a. rotatable member for operating on said material, a. drive'there-- for, a pair of concentric sleeves, a gear connected to one of said sleeves and engaged-by sa1d drlve, a drive confiectlon between the other sleeve and said rotatable member, a."

fixed rod encircled by said sleeves, a first hand wheel having threaded engagement with one end of said fixed rod, one of said sleeves being connected to said hand wheel for axial movement therewith, detachable bolt connections between said sleeves to permit or prevent relative rotation, and a second hand wheel connected to one end of the second mentioned sleeve, whereby upon releasing said bolt connections the rotatable member may beeasily rotated independentlyof the drive.

23. A machine for operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member operating on said material, a drive therefor, a rod connectedcoaxially to said rotatable member, means connected to said rod to move said rod axially, a sleeve loosely embracing said rod, and having one end thereof connected to said rotatable member for rotational movement therewith, afirst helical gear connected to said sleeve, a second helical gear meshing with said first helical gear, means' for moving said second helical gear axially to thereby effect the relative circum- *ierential movement of said rotatable member with respect to said second helical gear, and an easily engageable and disengageable drive connection between said second helical .gear and said drive, whereby said second helical gear may be freed from said drive, and said rotatable member adjusted independently of said drive.- a (v 24. A machine for making box blanks having aligned slots in opposite edges to form closure flaps therebetween, a reciprocatory mechanism for feeding the unslotted blanks in succession, apair of slotting heads, one having a pair of cutters spaced apart to the desired distance between the slots in one e and those in the other edge of the bl justing said slotting head in to said 85 for operating on said material, means for feeding mechainismto vary thelength ofthe ing sheet material, includin is running, and readily isconnectable means to prevent or permit free rotation of said last mentioned slotting head while the machine is at rest.

25. A printer and slotter for carton blanks, including a shaft forming a driven element, a gear loosethereon and forming a driving element, power transmitting means between said elements and including an axially movable member having a hehcal surface, and detachable connections to one of said elements to permit .or prevent relative free rotation of, said e1ements,and driving connec-' tions between said surface and the other element.

26. A printer and slotter for carton blanks, including a shaft forming a driven'element,

a gear loose thereon and forming a driving element, power transmitting means between said elements and including an axially movable member having a helical surface, and detachable connections to one of said elegears, means formoving said gearing axially to rotatably adjust one of said ears in respect to the other, a rod passing t rough said hollow shaft and connected to said rotatable ments to permit or prevent relative free rotation of said elements, driving connections ,between said surface and the other element,

a fixed member, a hand wheel threaded to said fixed member, and connections between v the hand wheel and said first mentioned member permitting relative rotation .and preventin relative axial movement.

27. printer and slotter for carton blanks,

including a shaft having an operating part for engaging the blank, a drive gear, a pairaof sleeves held against relative axial movement, a fixed threaded member, a hand wheel threaded to said member and held against relative axial movement in respect to said sleeves,

but relativel rotatable in respect thereto, means for e e'cting relative rotation of one of said sleeves and said drive gear upon axial movement of said-sleeves, means for drivin the shaft fromthe other of said sleeves, an a readily detachable connection for rmitting or preventing free rotation of said shaft in respect to said gear.

28. A machine for operating on advanca rotatable member for imparting to the s eet a desired characteristic, a hollow shaft connected to said rotatable member for rotation therewith a rod passing through saidrhollow shaft an connected to said rotatable member, and means connected to said rod for shifting said rodand-said rotatable member axially.

29. A machine for-operating on advancing sheet material, including a rotatable member im arting to the sheet the desired charac- Ill CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,850,800. 0 March 22,1932.

SAMUEL M. LANGSTON ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 7, line 29, claim 2 strike'out the word "second"; and line 30, after "said" insert the word "second"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 13th day of December, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore,v (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

